Bobbin chuck



Feb. 10, 1970 D, M, MULLlNs 3,494,565

BOBBIN'CHUCK Filed Oct. 11, 1967 INVENTOR. DAVID M. MULLNS `BY W @c AGENT United States Patent O M 3,494,565 BOBBIN CHUCK David M. Mullins, Pensacola, Fla., assignor to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,461 Int. Cl. B65h 54/40 U.S. Cl. 242-46.4 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bobbin chuck having integrated brake and clutch assemblies providing singular and sequential control of brake and clutch applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional bobbin chuck employed in winding continuous yarns onto bobbins is a surface drive type. Basically, a surface drive bobbin chuck comprises a `bobbin support journaled about a spindle 'and a means for clutching and braking the bobbin support. A bobbin mounted on the journaled support is driven peripherally by contact with a powered drive roll. The bobbin support is mounted on a pivotal swing arm to accommodate for the growth of a yarn package during the winding process and for bobbin donning and doffing operations.

Surface drive bobbin chucks in present use require handling of several control levers to carry out clutch and brake applications that consume time and effort. The term clutching refers to the gripping or holding of a bobbin upon and the releasing of a bobbin from the journaled support.

The bobbin chuck disclosed herein is integrated or arranged to provide uninterrupted, sequential control of clutch `and brake applications while carrying out a single operative step, and to provide uniform distribution of applied brake and clutch forces while maintaining rotational stability and balance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The bobbin chuck has a pair of concentric and slidably engageable sleeves one rotatably and the other rotatably and reciprocally mounted on a spindle. The reciprocable sleeve is provided with compression surfaces and is spring biased for bringing the cornpression surfaces into forced engagement with resilient members mounted on the other sleeve. The reciprocable sleeve includes one element of a brake assembly, while another brake element is carried by a spring biased brake rod extending through the spindle and normally biased to keep the brake elements disengaged. The brake rod is actuatable in one direction by a control lever to bring the brake elements into engagement for braking the sleeves and for, sequentially, displacing the reciprocable sleeve against a bias force to a degree to relieve the force applied to the resilient members by the compression surfaces.

In operation a bobbin is normally mounted over the concentric sleeves when the resilient members are relaxed, that is, the compression surfaces are displaced suiciently not to apply a force thereto. rl`he bobbin is clutched by release of the manual force applied to the control lever, whereupon the brake rod biasingly returns in the opposite direction, the reciprocable Sleeve is spring biased in a direction to effect compression of the resilient members and the brake elements are disengaged, sequentially.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing: FIGURE 1 is a cross-section view of the improved bobbin chuck with a bobbin mounted thereon, and

3,494,565 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 ICC Referring to the drawing, FIGS. l and 2, the improved bobbin chuck comprises a hollow mandrel or spindle 1 supported at one end thereof on a pivotal swing arm 2. A reciprocable rod 3 is positioned slidably within spindle l1 and is biased to a retracted position by a spring 4 mounted about one end of rod 3. Spring 4 is located within a bore 5 in spindle 1 and is compressingly caged between a shoulder 6 on spindle 1 and a shoulder 7 on rod 3. The spring biased end of rod 3 extends outwardly of spindle 1 and is provided with a rounded cam follower surface 8.

Opposite the spring biased end thereof, rod 3 extends outwardly of spindle 1 and has a coaxially arranged brake plate 9 and lining or element 10 secured thereto. Rotation of brake plate 9 is constrained by a plurality of pins 11 projecting from brake plate 9 and extending slidably into corresponding openings in `a restraining plate 12 secured to the end of spindle 1.

An inner cylindrical sleeve 113 is rotatably and reciproca=bly journaled about spindle 1 by a bearing 14 supported on a bearing housing 15 surrounding a linear bearing 16 in turn mounted on spindle 1. Linear bearing 16 is of conventional design and provides axial displacement, while bearing 14 provides journaled rotation of sleeve 13 on spindle 1.

Sleeve 113 is biased toward the supported end of spindle 1 by a plurality of springs 17 caged between an interiorly directed collar 18 and a spring retainer 19 mounted slidably on an interiorly splined sleeve portion 20 of collar 18, preferably spaced from spindle 1. Spring retainer 19 is biased by springs 17 against an adjustable thrust bearing 21 secured to spindle 1. Adjusting thrust bearing 21 varies the compression of springs 17. Bearing 21 is movable, slidably, linearly or axially along spindle 1 to a predetermined position to provide a desired compression of springs 17 and is then locked, conventionally, lby a set screw. A pre-adjustment is made in the assembly of the device, however, it will be understood that the device is constructed to be disassembled readily should a further adjustment be necessary.

Sleeve 13, at its outer end or right side as viewed in FIG. 1, is closed by a cup-shaped portion including a brake plate 22 having a brake lining or element 23 mounted interiorly thereof. Brake element 23 is coaxially arranged rwith brake lining 10, in face to face relation, and comprises a brake assembly. Near its outer end, inner sleeve 13 has a peripheral annular shoulder 24 and spaced therefrom adjacent the opposite end the sleeve has a plurality of radially extending lugs 25.

A concentric outer sleeve 26 surrounds sleeve 13 to a point near shoulder 24 and is rotatably journaled adjacent the supported end of spindle 1 on a bearing 27. Sleeve 26 has slidable contact with sleeve 13. A pair of spaced resilient members 28 and 29, preferably resilient rings, are mounted about sleeve 26. Resilient ring 28 is mounted at the journaled end of sleeve 26 in abutting contact with a shoulder 30, and resilient ring 29 is mounted at the opposite end thereof in a groove provided by both a shoulder 31 formed on sleeve 26 and shoulder 24 of sleeve 13.

Each radial lug 25 projects through a corresponding one of a plurality of slots 32 formed circumferentially around and extending through the wall of sleeve 26. Slots 32 are larger than lugs 25 permitting the latter to be linearly displaced within slots 32. Resilient ring 28 overlaps slots 32, and lugs 25 project to a height to contact resilient ring 28. Preferably, resilient rings 28 and 29,

when in a relaxed state, project slightly above the peripheral surface of sleeve 26 and above shoulder 24 of sleeve 13. Resilient rings 28 and 29 have lateral or side contact with shoulder 30, lugs 25, and shoulders 24 and 31, respectively. Sleeve 26 has an end ilange 33 that acts as a stop for the end of a bobbin 34.

A brake and clutch lever 3-5 is pivotally mounted about a pin 36 on pivotal swing arm 2, and has a handle 37 at one end biased by a spring 38 that biases lever 35 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2). Lever 35, at its opposite end, has a tapered cam surface 39 that engages with cam follower surface 8 of rod 3. A retainer plate 40 retains and guides the cam end of lever 35.

In initiating an operation, assume that the bobbin chuck has been swung or pivoted to a bobbin donning position away from a drive roll (not shown), that a bobbin 34 is to be mounted on the chuck and that the bobbin chuck components are in the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An operator applies a force to handle 37 of control lever 35 to lower handle 37 against the bias of spring 38. Downward movement of control lever 35 pivots the lever about pin 36 in a clockwise direction whereby tapered :am surface 39 frictionally and slidingly acts against :am follower surface 8 of rod 3 to actuate rod 3 right- Nardly against the force of spring 4 (FIG. l). Right- Ward displacement of rod 3 rst moves brake element 10 nto contact with brake element 23 effecting a brake rction upon the inner sleeve 13 and upon further displacenent of rod 3 applies sufficient force on brake element 23 to slide inner sleeve 13 rightwardly on bearing 16 rgainst the force of springs 17. Rightward telescoping lisplacement of inner sleeve 13 outwardly from outer sleeve 26 causes shoulder 24 and radial lugs 25 to be :arried away from resilient members 28 and 29 thereby 'emoving the compressive force applied to the latter. Shoulder 24 has sliding contact with resilient ring 29 and, rrdinarily, does not move to a distance where the resilent ring 29 would not be supported on shoulder 24. The 'esilient rings 28 and 29, not having a force exerted hereon, now relax to their normal conguration and to a lecreased outer diameter.

An empty or unpackaged bobbin 34 is slipped over the )uter sleeve 26 and positioned against flange 33 of the uter sleeve. The manual force exerted on handle 37 is hen slowly released to permit rod 3 to be biased leftvardly by spring 4. As rod 3 moves leftwardly, springs .7 bias inner sleeve 13 leftwardly to bring shoulder 24 tnd lugs 25 into compressive contact with resilient memers 29 and 30, respectively. The compressive force ap- )lied to resilient members 28 and 29 squeezes the reilient rings so that they expand radially outwardly and ress against the bore of bobbin 34 and apply a gripping r clutching 4force thereto. The degree of compression of he resilient members 28 and 29 is controlled by the 'alue of springs 17 and the adjustment of thrust bearing 51. As rod 3 is returned to its leftwardmost position by pring 4, brake element is carried away from brake lement 23 and disengaged therefrom. With bobbin 34 lutched, with the inner and outer sleeves, 13 and 26, zoupled, and with the brakes released, bobbin 34 and leeves 13 and 26 are free to rotate about spindle 1 as a lnit.

Swing arm 2 is then pivoted to bring bobbin 34 into urface engagement with a drive roll (not shown) for ollecting a yarn. When bobbin 34 is packaged with arn, it is pivoted away from the drive roll, is braked nd unclutched by exerting a manual force on control ever 35 as previously explained.

If desired, a latch mechanism may be provided to lock landle 37 in its bobbin unclutching position to give an Iperator more time to dot and don bobbins. Resilient ings 28 and 29 may be solid, substantially U-shaped, tollow or of any configuration providing uniform Ieripheral radial deformation.

I claim:

1. A bobbin chuck comprising in combination,

spindle means,

resilient means mounted rotatably about said spindle means,

means for compressing said resilient means to clutch a bobbin mounted thereon,

means for mounting said compressing means in rotatable and axially slidable relation on said spindle means,

rst spring means mounted on said mounting means for normally biasing the latter axially in one direction to cause said compressing means to exert a compressive force on said resilient means,

first brake means mounted on said mounting means,

second brake means, mounted in axially slidable and non-rotatable relation on said spindle means,

second spring means mounted on said second brake means for normally biasing the latter in said one direction disengaged from said rst brake means,

control means engaging said second brake means and positiona'ble to actuate the latter slidably in a second opposite direction against the force of said second spring means to effect engagement with said first brake means for braking said mounting means and for displacing the latter and said compression means in said second opposite direction to relieve the compressive force applied to said resilient means.

2. A bobbin chuck as in claim 1, wherein said control means is operable to efect braking, bobbin unclutching, bobbin clutching and brake disengagement applications in continuous sequence.

3. A bobbin chuck as in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting the bias force of said first spring means.

4. A bobbin chuck comprising in combination,

a spindle,

a first sleeve member, mounted in rotatable and axially slidable relation on said spindle, compression surfaces and rst brake means, provided on said first sleeve member,

a concentric second sleeve member rotatably mounted on said spindle and having slidable contact with said rst brake member,

resilient means mounted on said second sleeve member,

a rst spring means mounted on said rst sleeve member to normally bias the latter in one direction to cause said compression surfaces to exert a compressive force on said resilient means,

a second brake means mounted in non-rotatable and axially slidable relation on said spindle,

second spring means mounted on said second brake means for normally biasing the latter in said one direction disengaged from said iirst brake means,

control means engaging said second brake means and positionable to actuate the latter in a second opposite direction against the force of said second spring means to effect engagement with said rst brake means for braking said second sleeve member and for displacing the latter and said compression surfaces to release the compressive force applied to said resilient means.

5. A bobbin chuck as in claim 4,

wherein a plurality of slots are arranged circumferentially about said second sleeve member,

wherein said resilient means comprises a plurality of spaced resilient rings, and

wherein said compression means comprises a plurality of spaced annular compression surfaces, one of said annular compression surfaces comprising a plurality of lugs that extend through and are movable within said plurality of slots.

6. A bobbin chuck comprising;

a hollow spindle supported at one end and having a restraining member at its opposite end,

an actuating rod extending slidably through said hollow spindle, and having a Iirst brake means at one end thereof,

means for slidably connecting said first brake means to said restraining member to prevent rotation thereof,

an inner sleeve journaled rotatably and reciprocably on said hollow spindle and having a second brake means thereon aligned with said lirst brake means,

a plurality of spaced compression surfaces formed on said inner sleeve,

a concentric outer sleeve journaled rotatably on said hollow spindle, and having slidable contact with said inner sleeve,

perforate means on said Outer sleeve, at least one of said plurality of spaced compression surfaces projecting through and being displaceable within said perforate means,

a plurality of spaced resilient means mounted on said concentric outer sleeve, and supported at one side thereof by said concentric outer sleeve,

a first bias means for biasing said inner sleeve to bring each of said plurality of compression surfaces into compressive contact with a corresponding one of said plurality of resilient means at the opposite sides thereof,

a second bias means for biasing said actuating rod to a retracted position to disengage said rst brake means from said second brake means, and

control means for displacing said actuating rod to sequentially effect engagement of said first and second brake means and displacement of said plurality of compression surfaces away from said plurality of resilient means to remove the force applied thereto, and to permit said actuating rod to return to said retracted position.

7. A bobbin chuck as in claim 6, comprising means for adjusting said rst bias means.

'8. A bobbin chuck as in claim 6, wherein said resilient means are resilient rings having a uniform peripheral radial deformation characteristic.

9. A bobbin chuck as in claim 6, wherein said at least one of said plurality of compression surfaces comprise a plurality of lugs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 25 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R 

